An ongoing review of the content of personal, social and health education (PSHE) lessons will now examine whether to include equality and diversity issues, including transgender equality.

The move was included in an action plan to address transgender prejudice published by the Home Office yesterday.

In March, it emerged that young pupils could be taught the importance of giving consent in new sex education lessons, also being considered in the PSHE review.

The action plan, launched by equalities minister Lynne Featherstone, said that a child’s early years have a “profound influence on their life chances”.

It said it aimed to “help schools become more inclusive for gender variant children and to help provide more support and protection to transgender pupils in schools”.

It added that: “Schools should be a safe and supportive environment for children to learn in.

“The Government is committed to tackling transphobic bullying and we want to support schools to act as leaders and advocates for change.”

Margaret Morrissey, of the Parents Outloud campaign group, warned against “pouring in to the minds of children issues they may not be able to cope with”.

“We have got to stop overloading our young children with the sort of issues that may never come their way,” she said.

“If it does become an issue when they are older then address it then when they are better to deal with it.”

The transgender action plan also called for more support and tailored recruitment advice for businesses.

It said some 70 per cent of children who are uncertain about their gender are subject to bullying, while 88 per cent of transgender employees experience discrimination or harassment in their workplace.

Miss Featherstone said: "Too many transgender people still face prejudice at every stage of their lives, from playground bullying, to being overlooked for jobs or targeted for crime."

April Ashley, who became the first Briton to undergo sex-change surgery in 1960, said: "I think there are so many support groups out there unlike when I did my transition 52 years ago when there was no help at all.

"Today's announcement shows we are moving forward to breaking down barriers and educating people."

Alongside the launch, the Ministry of Justice announced a change in murder sentencing laws around hate crime.

Killers motivated by hostility towards disabled or transgender victims will face life sentences with a starting point of 30 years, Kenneth Clarke, the Justice Secretary said.

He doubled the length of sentence which judges use to calculate the minimum term offenders must serve behind bars, saying hate crimes were abhorrent.

The 30-year starting point brings murders motivated by hate towards disabled or transgender victims in line with those motivated by race, religion, or sexual orientation.